Leap Back Home to Me

by Lauren Thompson, Matthew Cordell (Illustrator)

A little frog’s first leap out into the world is a big, scary thing. But luckily, his mama is always there to catch him when he comes home. As the leaps get bigger, the frog gets braver—and before he knows it, he’s soaring out to the moon and beyond! Brought to life with touching text from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Thompson and vibrant watercolor illustrations from Matthew Cordell, this loveable little frog will hurdle his way into your heart. Come leap along, and see what it’s like to shoot for the stars...and always have a landing pad ready to catch you.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Childrens, Animals, Family, Fiction, Love

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 26, 2011

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Inspires new goals and a return to share them. -Monty K.

[Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mommy said she always wants me to leap back home to her, just like the froggy! 🐸

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leap Back Home to Me is a classic tale of the unconditional love that a mother will always have for her child. The story is told through the point of view of a little frogs' mother. The main character, a little frog, begins a journey by leaping over a ladybug and a bee. He then decided to leap over a clover. The mother frog reminds him to leap back home to her. The little frog continues his journey by leaping over daisies, leaping over beavers and then leaping back home to this mom. As the sun begins to set, the little frog keeps leaping over various animals, a hilltop, mountains and the sea. The story ends with the mother frog reminding her little frog that she will always be there for him when he leaps back home to her. The picture book, Leap Back Home to Me, would best fit for children in the primary age range. The book has very simple vocabulary and a maximum of seven words per page. This would be ideal for an early reader. The illustrations in Leap Back Home To Me are very bright and primary contrasting colors. For example, the first page contains a green frog, a red ladybug, a yellow bee and green grass. The illustrations appear to be made out of watercolors. The colors blend together easily on the pages. The few words that are on each page are printed in large text over the skyline. The illustrator also used various line thickness to create the image of water at different times during the day.
I would definitely recommend this book to others. It has a very sweet and heartwarming message throughout the entire story. This book would be perfect for a parent who is trying to explain to their child that they will always be there for them. I gave the book 4 stars out of 5 days only because I thought the illustrations were not top notch. They were great illustrations but I feel as if they could have been better. But thats just my opinion!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Familiar theme with a nice bounce, though I kind of wish the last line had kept the same pattern as all the others. I like that the frog leaps further and further from home: he starts with a ladybug and ends up in the stars. And I kind of love all the tables and chairs carefully balanced on lily pads.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little frog takes his first small leaps over a ladybug, over a bee, and over the clover before returning to his waiting mother. His leaps get bigger and he leaps over the creek and over the beavers. Then they get even bigger, leaping over trees and hills! After every outing he returns to his mother who is waiting for him with either a book to share, food to eat or a hug. Soon the little frog is leaping out into space and the stars, but no fear, his mother is still there for him.

Thompson has created a picture book that is very simple with just a few lines on each page and a gentle concept. Her text has an infectious rhythm to it, adding to the jaunty tone of the book. The humor of the book builds as the little frog leaps over larger and larger things. Children will love the humor and will delight in the final pages as the little frog enters outer space.

Cordell’s illustrations echo the jaunty tone of the text and add a friendliness, warmth and plenty of color to the story. The little frog soars into the sky with a joyous freedom, his froggy legs and arms waving merrily.

An ideal book for toddler story times featuring frogs, this is sure to become a favorite of young listeners. Appropriate for ages 2-4.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it.It is awesome.
I love it. Definitely 5 stars . I love it!!!

[Cosette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun activity book

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun rhyming text encourages a little frog to explore the world and do all the things, while knowing that the frog's parent will always be at home to welcome the little frog back.

Neither the little frog nor the parent are gendered (and it never says the big frog is a parent, the big frog is just clearly in a parental role), so this fits many different families and situations.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young frog is leaping away from home, a little farther each time, and always leaps back home to his mother. A great example of a young one learning to explore and discover his world and getting braver. Fun illustrations.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took a leap and picked up this book while I was waiting at the dealership for my automobile. This turned out to be a cute and fun story about a little frog leaping about, experiencing this and that, and leaping back home to his mom.

📚 Read book version.

[Ariel Winslow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this book 4/5 stars. This book was super cute and I think everyone young child should read it. It’s a great book about growing up being close to your mom. I wish I could read it for the first time again.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute one about parent love. Simple rhyme that isn't too sing-songy, but makes for an easy read-alound rhythm. One I can see in a storytime on parents/family, on frogs, or on animal movement (you can bet I'd have them leap frogging in place!).

[Casandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mama frog tells her young frog to leap all over the place until, eventually, "you leap back home to me".

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet story and beautiful illustrations. ❤️

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is sweet but possibly better for a very young crowd for storytime than for preschool storytime.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frog lovers will enjoy this book about family love. Ages 3 - 5

[Michelle Farella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute! Would be a good book for frog themed ST.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely easy to incorporate actions into! Lots of leaping, and then they can snuggle with their adult. Cute!

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frog leaps to all amazing places but always leaps back to Mom (home). Lovely story book perfect for mothers appreciation. Here's to all the mothers out there!!!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple rhymes reassuring a little frog of his mother's love, no matter how far away from her that he leaps. Decent, but not outstanding.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just lovely. A real hit at babytimes and toddlertimes. 2-year-olds have the attention span for it, and parents enjoy it.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

....and I am crying. This is a sweet story about seeing the world and then coming back home.

[Alison]

Read aloud in Kindergarten!

[skcocnaH · Rating 3 out of 5]

All around a solid meh.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is just plain adorable

[Kimberly]

1-2 sentences per page. Frog leaps different places but always has the support of the mom (leap back home to me). Simple light watercolor-like illustrations.

[Paula Greenfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet and encouraging book about a little frog, who leaps everywhere with his mother's blessing.

[Jessica Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute illustrations with a cute rhyming scheme. Very quick read. I'd check this out again from the library.

[Miss Janis the Storytime Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay. 02/01/16 Outreach 03/07/19 Thu

[Katie McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story Leap Back Home to Me is about a mother and child frog. The mother keeps beginning her sentences telling what the child frog should leap over so he could leap back home to her. She tells the frog to jump over various objects and animals and ensures to the child frog that she will always be there for him when he jumps. His reaches far lengths with his jumps never denying if his mom will be there. The theme of this story is bravery. The child frog continuously jumps higher and further to reach his mother. I rated this story a 4/5 stars, because it has a good message about family, along with very interesting and colorful pictures. I enjoyed reading this book, like I said before it had great illustrations that were fun to see. This was the second story that I read of a mother child relationship. To me, knowing to keep a good relationship with family is very important so that is why I would recommend this story. Keeping a good relationship could be talked about after finsihed reading